Will the Colchoneros get the year off to a good start?
For their first game of the new year, the Basques welcome the third-placed team from the capital to the Reale Arena. While Diego Simeone’s team is right on target as the closest pursuer of Real Madrid and Barca, “La Real” is lagging far behind its own expectations. With only 17 points from as many games, San Sebastian is not fighting for European Cup qualification, but simply to avoid relegation. The sixteenth-placed team is currently only two points above the relegation zone.
It is therefore no surprise that the Basque club’s management reacted in the winter and are hoping to turn things around with a change of coach. The new man on the sidelines is an old acquaintance from the Bundesliga. Pellegrino Matarazzo, who previously coached VfB Stuttgart and TSG Hoffenheim, is venturing outside Germany for the first time.
It is now up to the 48-year-old American to stabilize the club and implement his offensive style of play. However, it is doubtful that after only one week of training, the team will improve enough to take points off the Madrid side. It would be much more likely to bet on the visitors in Real Sociedad vs. Atletico Madrid.
Diego Simeone’s team is having a flawless season and is 20 (!) points ahead of its opponent in the table. In addition, the “Colchoneros” have remained unbeaten in their last eight matches against “La Real” and won the last encounter 4-0. It might therefore even be worth placing a handicap bet to drive the odds up even further.
In addition to the difficult overall sporting situation, Matarazzo also has to cope with some painful absences on his debut. Igor Zubeldia and Jon Gorrotxategi, two key players, are suspended. This will certainly not make the task of taking points off the third-placed team any easier, which is why the prediction for Real Sociedad vs. Atletico Madrid is an away win.
As an alternative to betting on the outcome of the game, it could also be worth placing a goal bet. With the “Colchoneros,” the Basques are facing the best defense in the league. In 18 games, the Madrid team has conceded only 16 goals—no other team in LaLiga can boast such a record. Accordingly, “both teams to score – no” looks attractive, with odds close to double the stake being offered for Real Sociedad vs. Atlético Madrid.
Real Sociedad – Atlético Madrid Head-to-head comparison / H2H record
The head-to-head record clearly favors the visitors in this matchup, who are now unbeaten in eight games against La Real. Diego Simeone’s team has also won two of the last three games by a margin of two or more goals, which again speaks in favor of the handicap tip.
Real Sociedad – Atletico Madrid Tip
Although the hosts have a new coach in Pellegrino Matarazzo, it is unlikely that the “Colchoneros” will feel the effects of this change in the match. The third-placed team will be too strong for the 16th-placed team, which will also be without two key players. It even makes sense to place a handicap bet to drive up the betting odds for Real Sociedad vs. Atletico Madrid.
As an alternative to betting on the outcome of the game, you could place a goal bet at Bet365 in one of the best betting apps. Since the visitors have the best defense in the league, it is quite conceivable that not both teams will score in this game.
